Florida A&M University student Michelle Coleman, 21, died Tuesday, July 7 after suffering from bullet wounds while at a party in Miami ’s Overtown neighborhood early Monday morning.
According to police, three armed men dressed in all black opened fire on the crowd at 12:45 a.m. hitting 12 people, including Coleman. Coleman was the first injured partygoer to die from the shooting spree while others still remain hospitalized.
Police reported a second fatality on Thursday, July 9, when 17-year-old high school student Anthony Smith died from gunshot wounds.
Coleman was shot three times in the chest, kidney and liver, according to Larry Coleman, the victim’s uncle.
He said his niece enjoyed working with children this summer.
“She loved kids and enjoyed her job at the daycare,” Larry said.
FAMU student Rodney Thompson, 24, a criminal justice student from Miami described Coleman as a loving and brave woman.
“She had a good heart and was a strong person…she knew how to make the best out of a bad situation,” Thompson said.
Coleman’s last Facebook status on July 3 said, “I stretch my hands to thee, Lord let your will be done.”
So far, there has been no word of a candlelight vigil to be held at FAMU.
The Miami Police Department were searching for suspects and urging anyone with information to call (305) 579-6530 or Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at (305) 471-8477.
Ryan Demetrius writes for The Famuan, the Florida A&M University student newspaper, which originally published a version of this article.
